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March 2021 / 17 pulverized coal powder. The researchers have tried to find alter- native uses for Wyoming's Powder River Basin coal because demand for coal to generate electricity is in decline. Nanographite is a material that's used as a lubricant and in various products such as fire extin- guishers and lithium-ion batteries. Previous research has shown that a microwave can be used to reduce the moisture content of coal while removing sulfur and other miner- als. The previous methods required a chemical pretreatment of the coal, but the UW researchers simply ground the coal into powder. They then put the powder on copper foil and sealed it in glass containers with a gas mixture of argon and hydrogen before placing the powder in a conventional microwave oven as that had the required levels of radiation. The copper foil is cut into a fork shape, which induces sparks under microwave radiation and generates an extremely high tem- perature of more than 1,800°F. The heat helps transform the coal pow- der into polycrystalline graphite with the copper foil and hydrogen gas also contributing to the process. Researchers found that the optimal microwave duration was 15 min- utes. The process is both simple and relatively inexpensive. The researchers believe that the new coal conversion method could be refined and scaled up to yield more nanographite. The new source of nanographite would also help solve the issue of finite natural graphite reserves and environ- mental concerns about graphite extraction procedures. The research "Converting Raw Coal Powder into Polycrystalline Nano-Graphite by Metal- Assisted Microwave Treatment" was pub- lished in the journal Nano-Structures & Nano-Objects. technology options like drones to gather health data. Key drivers for the air qual- ity equipment monitoring market include the focus of governments on regulating and monitoring urban pollution and workplace pro- ductivity issues related to airborne particulates. Another driver is that industry and commercial estab- lishments have begun adopting portable air quality monitors with high accuracy. The adoption of AI integration also expands the capa- bilities of air quality monitoring equipment, which opens up oppor- tunities to improve the equipment. In terms of region, the Asia- Pacific region dominates the global market for air quality monitoring equipment. Environmental protec- tion agencies have begun putting in air quality monitoring stations and the region has also seen a growing number of smart city projects, which require technology integration to improve municipal management, governance, city planning, and design. The region also has many industrial facilities that demand air quality monitor- ing equipment. In North America and Europe, stringent regulations are expected to continue driving demand for air quality monitoring equipment in those regions. For more info and to purchase a copy of the report for $5,795, visit www. transparencymarketresearch.com. RESEARCH NOTES UW researchers create nanographite conversion process via conventional microwave Researchers at the University of Wyoming (UW) have demon- strated that it's possible to generate high-value nanographite from • Lean, dense phase, plug-flow conveying of powders & small particles • Gentle - segregation & damage free • Conveying rates up to 10,000 lbs/hr • Safe, explosion free • Quiet, hygienic, reliable • No tools assembly Simply the best vacuum conveyor 609-265-0101 www.volkmannUSA.com PUT US TO THE TEST Volkmann_PBE_two-color-ad-May-2020.indd 1 3/30/20 4:04 PM